Report: Mickelson might use controversial wedges at Torrey

Sofar the only thing resembling controversy in the new PGA Tour season has beenJohn Daly and Dean Wilson playing with pre-1990 Ping Eye2 wedges, which forlegal reasons don't need to comply with the Tour's new rule that softens thegrooves on wedges. That issue will get a lot bigger if Phil Mickelson shows upat the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego this week with some old Ping wedges.It could happen, accordingto Golf Digest's Tim Rosaforte:

After reading about John Daly and DeanWilson using ths same wedges at last week's Sony Open, Mickelson dug a few outof his garage and brought them to Callaway, where they were bent from 60 to 64degrees, and adjusted the soles. But the player is still evaluating playersentiment about the Ping loophole, wondering whether it falls into the spiritof the new groove rule.

Tour pro Bob Estes was critical of Wilson using the old wedges at the SonyOpen, saying it was "maybe a little bit against the spirit of the gamesince they passed that rule." British Open champion Stewart Cink agreed."I have a problem with it," Cink said. "I wouldn't go up to a playerand say, 'You shouldn't be using them,' but I'm not alone in thinking they shouldn'tbe using them. The Tour can't really do anything. It has to be through peerpressure."

Mickelson played Ping clubs whileat Arizona State (1988-92), so if he does decide to use those old wedges, heprobably has a garage full of them.